Ruins of the capital of the ancient kingdom of Guge in Tibet, which played an important role during the revival of Buddhism in Tibet in the 11th century AD. A huge fortress, which grew on the side of a pyramidal rock, 160 meters above the surrounding landscape, controlled the ancient caravan trail from India to Tibet. After standing for about seven hundred years, it was destroyed by Muslim mercenaries commissioned by the Buddhist king of Ladakh.
According to some assumptions, it was Tsaparang who became the prototype of the legendary country Shangri-La. The Shangri-La is still controversial if it is a myth or it is still hidden in the fantastic Himalayan mountain valley, where it is waiting for its moment to get out of the mountain fogs. According to ancient legend, this is a sacred place where a community of the greatest spiritual adepts and their leaders, today, are hidden by the veil of Akasha, which protects it from the world at large.
Large-scale archaeological work began here in 1985. A whole system of tunnels and caves, about 400 rooms and 800 caves was found under the mountain. Above were built two temples Red and White, a monastery for monks, along stone stairs, through a tunnel, once it was possible to go to the royal settlements, and at the very top of the mountain there was a royal palace. Over a thousand square meters of frescoes can be considered the most precious remains of the city. Among these frescoes there are paintings of mythical creatures, with a human head and a serpent's body, which are very rare elsewhere. There are caves that have preserved weapons, helmets and armor that were used by warriors in the distant past.